Message: Storm Chasers September 27, 2009 My oldest son, Roger, has always been fascinated with weather, and I think he may have gotten part of that from me. A month ago, he graduated with a degree in meteorology at the University of South Alabama. Roger loves storms, and south Alabama gets a lot of storms. When Hurricane Katrina hit Mobile, the mandatory evacuation line was just two blocks south of Roger s apartment. Naturally, he rode the storm out. He was so excited he could hardly stand it. My wife, Joy, could hardly stand it either, but it wasn t excitement she was feeling. While at school there, Roger would get together with meteorology friends to chase storms, specifically tornados. They equipped their cars with some very basic equipment, and when the weather looked conducive to producing tornadoes nearby, they would take to the road. When other people are driving away from storms, he is driving toward them. Storm-chasing fires Roger up; He s passionate about it. Most storm-chasers are. It s more than a hobby; it is a passion. For storm-chasers, there is a certain thrill, an adrenaline rush in the chase. Several years ago, I thought that was the only motive of storm-chasers. That would be my motivation. What I have since discovered is that passionate, risk-taking stormchasers chase down and report critical information that helps to protect people and save lives. I asked Roger to tell me a few things that storm-chasers do. Here is what he told me: Chasers are the "eyes" of the National Weather Service and emergency people. Forecasters watch storms on radar and make decisions about warnings based on what they see on their screen. Oftentimes, however, what is on the screen is not necessarily what is going on out in the field. This is where chasers come in. Chasers don't just call-in tornadoes, they call-in other information, too, like hail, flooding, storm structure, etc. All of this info is very helpful to forecasters because then they can issue warnings based on more than just what is shown on a computer screen; they can have real data from the field to back up their reasoning for issuing a warning. Chasers are also helpful after a storm hits. They can provide valuable info about damage that a storm has caused. Example: Let's say a tornado heavily damages a couple of houses outside of town. The people inside those houses may be trapped and unable to call 911. However, storm chasers know where the tornado has been and will often go behind the tornado to survey the damage. They may be the only people who come across these damaged houses. They can then call 911 and alert the county emergency people that there is some serious damage in such-and-such part of the county. This helps the people in the houses, but it also helps the county people know where the storm damage is. Think of storm chasers as people who go into storms in order to help others, people who take risks to protect or benefit other people. Police officers and firefighters are also a kind of storm-chaser, then. There are all kinds of storm-chasers. We ve
been tracking the story of a guy in the Bible named Paul. He was a very unique storm-chaser. Paul was passionate about calling people to trust and follow Jesus, regardless of the personal risk. This was not always the case. At one point in his life, he was passionately AGAINST Jesus and his followers, going so far as to put them in prison and have them executed, but Paul made a stunning u-turn. He encountered God, and God called him to tell people everywhere about Jesus. Jesus so revolutionized his life and thinking that he devoted his entire life to telling people about Jesus, starting churches, loving people, and applauding God. His passion was for people to hear about and follow Jesus. His passion created storms. At points, he was verbally abused. Other times, he was assaulted. False accusations were leveled against him. Parts of his story read like a Raiders of the Lost Ark script, but they are true. All through his life, you find Paul heading toward a new storm. At this point in Paul s story, he has run into a new storm. He is imprisoned in Rome. He had been on trial in Jerusalem and Caesarea on trumped-up charges. As a Roman Citizen, Paul made an appeal for his case to be heard in Rome. He was sent to Rome and almost never made it after the ship he was on sank in a horrific storm. He survived, however, and was brought to Rome and permitted to be under house arrest. Today, a house arrest means you ll have a tracking device attached to your body at all times. With a Roman house arrest, a soldier was attached to you at all times, and every 4-6 hours, a new soldier was chained to you. Paul was able, however, to have people over and talk to them. He was able to write letters. During that time, then, he wrote a letter back to a church he had started in the city of Philippi. That letter was included in the Bible. Here is what he says about his imprisonment. Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. (The Bible, Philippians 1:12-14, NIV) Paul is right in the middle of a storm; He is a prisoner. He could have avoided this storm if he had just stopped telling people about Jesus. Seriously. But Paul moved toward the storm, not away from it. Sure, he might lose his freedom, but helping others find spiritual freedom and hope was worth it to Paul. And lose his freedom, he did. He writes, then, to tell his friends in Philippi how he s doing in the storm. His words are very revealing. You see, if I m Paul, I think I d try to wrestle at least a bit of sympathy from my friends regarding my condition. I m handcuffed to some soldier night and day. It s tough to sleep at nights. I can t go anywhere. Paul says nothing like that. Instead, he says I want you to know that prison is actually advancing God s good work in the lives of people. God is doing a good work in my storm; Lots of good things are happening.
As it turns out, Paul s court case is pretty big news in Rome. His strange new teaching about a guy named Jesus has stirred a great deal of curiosity. People in significant numbers begin coming by his rented apartment to hear his teaching and ask him questions. Staff members in Caesar s courts are going over his case and, in the process, are regularly hearing the story of Jesus. The courts are backlogged, and so Paul s case is waiting for months and months, so he is able to talk to many people, probably more than he ever imagined he could. Jesus is suddenly a very current topic of conversation in Rome. Paul writes that believers were becoming much more courageous in talking about Jesus with others. Because of Paul s courage in the storm and because of God s grace to Paul in the storm, others were motivated to go toward the storm. They became more fearless, and so even more people were hearing about Jesus. Oh, and guess who else is hearing about Jesus? Every soldier on every shift who ends up handcuffed to Paul, that s who! And there is a good chance some of them decided to follow Jesus. (Paul ends this letter with a greeting from all the saints (believers) including those of Caesar s household.) Paul goes so far as to say that even the palace guards see that God is at work through Paul s imprisonment. Understand, also, that the city of Rome was something like our modern day New York City in that it was the center of the world at that time. Paul knew this: What happens in Rome doesn t stay in Rome; It goes everywhere! And so, the good news of Jesus had an amazing new outlet. Paul says that his storm has turned out to be an amazing opportunity. Make no mistake, being imprisoned is not fun; it is a storm. Know this, however, that God does some of His best work in us and through us in storms. Paul in chains was probably seen as a disaster by some. It was just the opposite. Things aren t always as they seem. What appears to be an obstacle can turn out to be a springboard. Paul s imprisonment is opening more doors than even Paul could have dreamed. God does amazing things, even in prison, even today. Just ask Charles Retz. A number of years ago, Charles got into a fight that left the man he was fighting dead. Initially charged with murder, he actually wondered if he would face the death penalty. Charles pleaded for self-defense, but the charge was reduced only to voluntary manslaughter, and he was sentenced to 35 years in a maximum security prison. After several years in prison, Charles was able, through a remarkable series of events, to get his case re-heard. A judge concluded the charge should have been involuntary manslaughter, and a few weeks ago, Charles was released after six years, seven months, and six days in jail. Yes, he was counting. I had a chance to talk to him on the phone this last week. I was curious if he thought prison had any benefits. Here is what he said(to my best recollection): I would not trade away one day I spent in prison. I would not change a thing. The only thing I would change is how I got there. Time in prison changed everything. First, he said it saved his life, literally. When I got to
prison, he said, I was on a path to self-destruction, and I was on my last leg. I was jaundiced. I had even been told I d be dead by now given all of the damage from car and motorcycle accidents. God used prison to save my physical life. He continued: In 1982, I had given my life to Jesus, but my life was a rollercoaster ride after that. I ended up walking away from religion. When I got in jail, that changed. When I got in, I asked God to help me keep other people from going down my path. I began reading my Bible again, and praying to God. I enrolled in a Bible College that had a prison program. By the way, he ended up graduating Magna Cum Laude. I learned I had to trust God, and that I could trust Him. The first thing I would do every day was to thank God for the day and surrender to Him on that day. I had to die to myself. I was in a maximum security prison where 70% of the prisoners had taken a life. It was common for inmates to create a shank, a homemade weapon. I thought about it for protection, but decided I would trust God instead. I was 100% unharmed. I ended up starting a prayer group in prison. I would help new prisoners develop a plan for the first five years of their incarceration. It gave them hope and purpose. I m writing to guys in prison and I m planning to start a prison ministry. Interesting. Prison was the last thing Charles wanted, but ended up being what he most desperately needed. God does amazing work in storms. Our tendency, however, is to run from storms, avoiding pain or hardship at all costs. Listen to our prayers and how often we are asking God to keep us out of problems or pain or struggle of any kind. God loves you and wants to hear your heart, but the last thing He is going to do is to help you avoid all storms. In fact, God often calls us to chase storms, to go into the eye of a storm, where we risk losing something. If you build your life around avoiding all storms, you will eventually find yourself at cross-purposes with God. God wants to work through storms. In fact, some of the things that God calls you to do will create storms. Telling someone about Jesus can sometimes create storms. Paul knew that firsthand. Doing the right thing can create a storm. Confronting a friend about a wrong choice or destructive behavior can create a storm. Admitting you were wrong is painful. It is very hard to forgive a painful wrong done to you, but you have to run toward that storm, not away from it. God calls us to be storm-chasers: giving generously, standing up for mistreated people, telling the truth, and the list goes on. So Paul says his imprisonment has actually been good for people to hear about Jesus. The word is getting out more than ever before. Then he adds this interesting and unexpected note: It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the
gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. (The Bible, Philippians 1:15-17, NIV)) Here again is where the honesty of the Bible is so refreshing. Christians sometimes act like jerks, like spoiled, immature kids. We just do, especially church leaders like myself. We can get very selfish and short-sighted. Maybe another church leader is teaching something I think is mistaken, or maybe he/she did something I thought was judgmental. We can get to a place where we almost hope something bad happens to them. At the very least, we aren t disappointed when one of them has to step down from ministry for some reason. It is something we have to battle. Paul encounters the very same thing. It turns out that some church leaders aren t upset he is imprisoned. They are sort of glad. Paul was very big on grace, for instance, a stance that some may have viewed as dangerous. There may be others who were struggling with pride issues. They wanted to be as well-known as Paul. If Paul was in prison, they could gain some ground. Paul was aware that some of that was going on. So, how does Paul, the storm-chaser, respond to this? By the way, what would your response be? Listen to what he says: But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. (Philippians 1:18-19, NIV) I told you that storm-chasers are passionate, single-minded people. Paul is thrilled about one thing: Jesus is being proclaimed. Sure, some people s motives are mixed, but they are spreading the good news of Jesus. He is not concerned about himself or what others think of him as long as people are hearing the truth about Jesus. Paul is just happy people are hearing about Jesus. He had a single passion- -people hearing about Jesus. To appreciate Paul s next words, you need to know that the court in Rome is going to decide if Paul will live or if he will die. He is not being held on a traffic violation. He faces serious charges. It is a capital case; it s a big storm. Paul has been pondering the question of whether he will be freed or if he will be executed. It is at this point that he shares with his friends in Philippi (and with us) what he has concluded about life and death: I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:20-21,NIV) At his most recent Hall of Fame induction speech, Michael Jordan said: The game of basketball has been everything to me. My refuge, my place I ve always gone when I needed to find comfort and peace. It has been a source of intense pain, and feelings of joy and satisfaction, and one that no one can even imagine. It s been a
relationship that has evolved over time and it has given me the greatest love and respect for the game. It has provided me a platform to share my passion with millions in a way I neither expected nor could have imagined in my career. For Michael Jordan, to live is basketball. For Paul, to live is Jesus. He could say: Jesus has been everything to me, my refuge, my place I ve always gone when I needed to find comfort and peace. It has been a source of intense pain, and has brought joy and satisfaction that no one can even imagine. I have had a platform to share Jesus in ways I neither expected nor could have imagined in my lifetime. Jesus is my life. For that reason, Paul could add, to die is gain. Dying means that he gets to see the One Who loved him more than any other, the One who extended grace to him even though he took people s lives. Death means he will be in the presence of the One he has told people about for years. When Paul says death is gain, it s not because he s suicidal. It s not because he thinks he ll have a harem of beautiful women, as some believe. It s not because he believes he ll have a mansion just over the hilltop. It s not because he is miserable or depressed. It s because he ll be with the One he has come to love more than any other. This creates an interesting quandary for Paul. He starts to think this way: If I had the choice, which would I choose? Ask me today, and I ll tell you what I would choose; I d choose living thirty more years! It s not a huge quandary for me, but it was for Paul. He, after a lot of thought, reaches a conclusion. He decides he d like to live longer, too, but for a reason different from mine. Here s what he says: If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. (Philippians 1:22-26, NIV) When it came down to living and dying, here was Paul s deciding factor. Life would give him more time to build people up and help them follow Jesus. He would be able to tell more people about Jesus. It s more necessary for you, he writes. In other words, his continued life would help others, and he leaned toward that. He says he hopes he is released so he can see the Philippians again and challenge them in their faith. I think he s being perfectly sincere. If I told you I d rather live so I could help people, I d understand if you were skeptical, but I think Paul means this, and it is deeply challenging to me. This is the same guy who, in another part of the Bible, wrote: I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. (Romans 9:2-4, NIV) In other words, I so want my Jewish countrymen and
women to know Jesus, I d be willing to be condemned in their place. That is a level of love for people that I have never had. Frankly, it s sobering to me. Let me share a personal word with you. As I was working on this message this week, I repeatedly had this thought: Pray, and ask God to give you the passion of Paul. I have resisted praying that all week. I guess the reason is that a passion like Paul s would re-shape my life. I guess I ve been afraid that if I asked God to give me the passion of Paul, He might actually do it, or He might take me into the kinds of storms that Paul encountered. So, I haven t prayed that yet, but by the grace of God, I m going to pray it today. And I d like you to consider praying the same thing. Here s why. Our world needs that kind of passion. The town where you live needs that kind of compassion. Our region needs storm-chasers like Paul. We need people whose deepest passion is helping people to find Jesus, no matter what it costs! We need Paul s and we need Paula s who are willing to do whatever it takes to help reach out to others in Jesus name--to serve the poor, to stand for the forgotten, to share Jesus, to pursue what s right and good. I want to give you some time now to process what is going on in your heart, to consider what God is stirring in you. Our worship team may sing quietly in the background. You may want to sing along, but don t feel any press to do so. Pay attention to what God is speaking into your heart. Hope Church